ADOPTED

Hopper,,, Six-year-old Hopper was found stray a few months ago, but after a little while, the family who took him in turned him out again. “He’s too rambunctious,” they said as they dropped him off at the shelter. But the shelter staff had a different opinion: “This dog is a dreamboat!" Hopper’s foster mom concurs, and here is what she has to say:

Hopper is a typical playful, energetic Golden boy. He is extremely affectionate, and he just loves to get pets and give kisses—to canines and humans alike. The name “Hopper” really suits him, because when you first get up in the morning or come home from work, he gets very excited and hops around! After a few minutes, though, he settles down nicely. He knows “sit” and “lie down,” and he’s trustworthy in the house.

Hopper has many favorite activities, including going for walks, playing with people or other dogs, and, of course, eating! Mealtimes are great, and he’s not above taking a little something off the counter if the opportunity arises – oops! (we’ll work on that one). Hopper is good on a leash—he pulls a little bit, but not too much.

Hopper gets along well with my two dogs; they are a little bit older than he is, and he’s respectful with them. But did he ever love it when my sister's 1-year-old Corgi came to visit! They ran and ran in the yard. So I know he’d really like to go to a family with other active dogs who love to play as much as he does. I think he’d enjoy older children too, who would play with him and take him for walks. He wouldn’t hurt younger kids, of course, but he might accidentally knock them over—he’s just not aware of his size. I sometimes think he's a chihuahua trapped in an 80-pound Golden body—he’s so loving he’d probably be delighted to be a lapdog, if it weren’t for the fact that he’s about ten times too big!

Update 06/25/2005:

First, notice that Hopper just got younger! After observing him in care we think he's probably younger than six, maybe more like 4 years old or so.
Hopper recently spent the weekend in respite care when his foster mom was out of town. He went to stay with Margo and her band of five old Goldens and one puppy. Here's the news:

"Hopper is wonderful with other dogs. He understood to back off when Chili wrinkled her nose at him at first. He was gentle with puppy Caroline, even when she repeatedly bit his ankles & pulled his tail. He would drop into a play bow to her. She followed him around at first & by the second night, Caroline was zooming across the yard with a teddy bear in her mouth & Maggie (neighbor GR, age 6 months) zooming behind, with Hopper leaping like a kangaroo in third place. Buster, age 13, palled around with Hopper. Ace, age 12, usually doesn't like young males, but Hopper was so respectful that Ace told him he could stay as long as he liked. Madeleine, age 12, says Hopper is A-OK. Old Abby, age 14, was quite comfortable with Hopper, because of his respectful & gentle ways. All our dogs think Hopper is a pleasure to be with. He didn't really play with them, but he loved interacting with them & chasing Caroline. Hopper is so tall & long legged that he bounds when he runs ... it is so cute & he looks young. He weighs 78 pounds, which is not much for such a tall guy; he could carry another 10 pounds as long as he had enough exercise.
“Hopper is great!”
 

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